The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-06-30

IL
alike speak of the fearful conflict and of it's fearful
terribleness Even at this date the cheeks blanch
and the heart refuses 10 pulsate as the mind en-
deavors to take in the awfulness of that bloody
scene
And during that summer afternoon, amid the
carnage OF Seminary aed Cemetery Ridges, where
were those gallant Texans; What part did that
small band of heroes play in the fearful drama
that was being then enacted:
The roll was called that night and fully one half
of those who had answered to their names in the
morning of that day were laying, wounded or dead,
upon the field. All homer to those who fought, to
those who fell, to thoee who survived
Cemetery and Seminary Ridges! field of
Gettysburg! Of all who stood upon your
crestsN of all who climbed your rugged sides on
that eventfu day, none Drawer fought or died than
they of Hoods brigade.
And who will write the story of that summer
afternoon? And who will sing its song!
Nay; tell il as you ma,
1t never can be told,
And sing it as you will,
1t never can be sung.
Leader of the men in gray!
Chieftan- .truest of the true
Write the stOry az you may,
And you did; but even you,
With your pen, could never write
| Half the story of that day,
And you have failed,
As failed our men in gray.
THE WILDERNESS.
The lfeblood of the Confederacy was fast ehb
ing away. Everything that mortal man could con-
ceive or do had been devised and performed Our
| resources, in men and supplies, were rapidly and
steadily failing, while those OF the enemy were be
| ing increased almost every hour. The official
register of both armies shows that when the Battle
of the Wilderness was fought, Grant had under
| his immediate command, one hundred and forty
one thousand fighting men well drilled and abund'
anty provided with supplies of every character. To
| this formidable army, Lee stood opposed with an
army of but riXtythree thousand, nine hundred and
eighty-one men, and they almost exhausted by a
| tiV,un ofru u,Tla m
| poorly and scantily provided with provisions,
clothing and munitions of war. Truly was the
conflict unequal, but even here and under such I'M
| toward circumstances did the Confederate soldier
maintain the reputation which he had already
achieved The Texas brigade had returned from
the bloody field of Chickamauga, and from the ar
duous campaign that followed, to the scene of its
early operations and to their old commander. 1t
had returned with fresh laurels added to the chap
let of fame, which it had garanded for itself when
ever and Wherever 1t had been called into action.
| 1t still maintained its naughty bearing amidst all
the misforunes that were thickly clustering around
and about the cause which it loved so well, and to
which it had plighted its life, its fortune and it's
| honor And here again was it to demonstrate its
| Just title to that renown which had become known
to the whole civilized world. And it was here
that evidence was to be furnished anew of its I'M
dying, attachment to their great chiettaln, by an
of any other people, 1t will go down to history as
one of the most peculiar aud the most affecting in.
cidents of the great civil war can best give it
|
most distinguished Virgnian.
"Heths and WilcoX's divisions of A. p. Hills
corps being hard pressed by the superior numbers
| of Hancock's corps, General Lee sent an aid to
hasten the march of Longstreet's divisions.
| These came the last mile and half at double
quick, in parallel columns, along the plank road,
the Texas brigade in the front General Long
street rode forward with that imptrturable cool
ness, which always characterized him In times of
perilous action, and began to put them ia position
| on the right and left of the road. His men came
tl,nf nf hntf
unexamDled even among veterans, and with an
elan which presaged restoration of our battle and
| certain victory.
When they arrived, the bullets of the enemy on
our right flank had begun to sweep the field in the
OF the artillery pits on the left of the road
where General Lee was giving directions and as
ssting General Hill in rallying and reforming his
| troops.
1t was here that the incident of Lees charge
with Gregg's Texas brigade occurred The Texans
cheered Justify as their line of battle, coming up
in splendid style, passed by Wilcoxs disordereC
columns and swept across our artillery pit and IL:
adjacent breastwork.
Much moved by the greeting of these brave men
and their magnificent behavior, General Lee
spurred his horse through an opening in the
trenches, and followed close on their line as II
moved rapidly forward. The men did not perceive
that he was going with them until they had ad
vanced some distance in the charge; when they
did there came from the entire line, as it rushed
on, the cry: $50 back, General Lee, 60 back" A
sergeant seized his bride rein; the gallant General
GreSg, (WnO lhlu uOWu HIS lie Uu tue dJu VI oCOo
Der, almost in General Lees presence, in deeper
ate charge of his brigade on the enemy's lines II
the rear of Fort Harrison turning his horse TOWARD
General Lee. demonstrated with him.
just then called his attention to General Long
street, whom he had been seeking, and who Sat Oh
/ his horse on knoll to tie right of the Texans
directing the attack of his divisions.
| He yielded with evident reluctance to the en-
treaties of his men, and rode up to Longstreet'
| position. ,
Ial,nw IA x.yn1f hntu duty
They were $40 strong and lost half their numbe
killed and wounded on that bloody day.
The battle was soon restored, and the enem
driven back to their position of the night before.
, What scene have we here! What vision
does 1t coniure up?
Amidst The dense woods and almost impene
trable underground of the Wilderness that Ma
, morning--amdst the shock and havoc of battle
shell and canister and grape, and the deadly riff
bullet bursting and driving and screamin
the brigade preparing for the charge, un
mindful of itself, but careful of its believe
chieftain-the ragged sergeant with his hand upo
, the rein of the commanding general.
My friends when yonder capitol shall have bee
completed in all of its splendid proportons-maa
nifcent and worthy of the greatness of Texas, rs
| will be-yet two things additional must be done
t insure the completeness of the whole-the one
painting, drawn by amaster band, must be hun
t in meet prominent place upon its walls, repre-
senting Lee at the Wilderness. The other
lofty monument of the purest marble standing i
the front, to be seen by all men, and inscribe
i |
WAYS In the advance Future generation
r will gaze, with increasing delight, upo
that painting and will ponder upon Lee and tn
Widerness and the May of 1854; and theTefr on
draw in penteous abundance, the glorious inspiI
alton of that scene. Truly
Seasons have passed since that day and year;
/ AGAIN DER its pebbles the brook runs clear,
And the field in richer green is drest,
Where the dead of the terrible conflict rest
flushed is the roll of the Rebel drum,
The saDres are sheathed and the cannon are dumb
And Fate with ptilees hand has fured
The flag that once challenged the gaze of the world
But the fame of the Wilderness fight abides
And down into history grandly rides,
| t'alm and unmeved az in battle he sat,
The gray bearded man in the black SLOUGH hat.
And the inscription on that lofty monument i
front Of the capital -"AlwGys in the advance
What world of meaning does 1t invOYe Wha
7 lesson will 1t teach to thJse who shall com
after us!
, Always in the advance-in peace or in war-i
whatever affects the prosperity or the happiness
, the people-in whatever shall rebound to the wei
4 fare of humanity an eXDreesion-full TO the over
I flowing with the sentiment OF high nobility-loft
courage earnest deyotiOn-and nnruifled pa
tience! An expression made immortal by Hood
9 brigade.
But must be done. And yet, how feebly hav
/ executed the task assighed me on this occasion
An hundredth part of the wOndrous story G
I Hoods brigade has not been told.
To others more competent than myself do leay
the bloody fields OF Malvern Hill, Freeman's Fort
y BoonsbOrough Gap, Sharpsburg, Chickamagut
al ali of which you, survivors of Hoods brigade
D .,d vour comrades did yuur duty. your full dutI